Alex Cooper's wildly popular podcast, Call Her Daddy, typically features Hollywood celebrities, social media influencers, and even therapists, and talks about friendship, love, mental health, and more to millions of listeners each week. We are talking about.
This week, Cooper sat down with a less typical guest: Vice President Harris.
“Call Her Daddy” is the most listened to podcast among women. According to Spotifysigned Cooper to an exclusive contract worth more than $60 million in 2021. It's the second most listened to podcast overall after last year's Joe Rogan's “The Joe Rogan Experience,” and boasts “millions” of Gen Z and Millennials. Dear listeners. ”
Mr. Cooper's audience is primarily women and young voters, according to media research firm Edison Research. Edison admitted that report Nearly 70% of “Call Her Daddy” listeners are women, more than three-quarters are under the age of 35, and 93% of listeners are under the age of 45.
The company acknowledged that nearly half (48%) of Cooper's listeners are Democrats, about 24% are Republicans and 20% are independent voters.
Cooper first rose to fame with Barstool Sports with the release of “Call Her Daddy” in 2018, before leaving the media company for a deal with Spotify. Last August, SiriusXM signed the podcast star to a multi-year deal reportedly worth $125 million.
Harris is one of the few, if not the only, politicians to appear in Cooper's interview. Cooper has avoided politics and politicians while his podcast has rapidly gained popularity.
“As you know, I don't normally talk about politics or have politicians on this show, because I want Call Her Daddy to be a show that anyone can feel comfortable watching and that anyone can watch. Because we want it to be a safe place to watch,'' Cooper said during the episode's introduction. .
Still, Cooper said she ultimately chose to invite Democratic presidential candidates along with former President Trump because of the emphasis on women's rights in this election.
cooper Reportedly, he was refused an interview. Harris or President Biden earlier this year.
But after much thought, the 30-year-old host said, “I can't imagine a world where one of the key conversations in this election is about women, and I'm not a part of that.”
“I know I have a diverse audience when it comes to politics, so please hear me out when I say my goal today is not to change your party affiliation.” she added. “What I hope is that you hear a conversation that’s not that different from the conversation that we have here every week.”
45 minute episodereleased on Sunday night, focuses primarily on reproductive and women's rights – Cooper's Issues increasingly debated Following the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade.
When asked why Cooper chose to appear in an extended interview on “Call Dad,” Harris said, And I heard that they're part of a community and they're not out there alone. ”
Politics and media experts say Ms. Harris stands to benefit from interviewing Ms. Cooper in front of an audience made up primarily of women and young people, two important voting groups. Said to be configured.
“This podcast and other more niche media are a way for Vice President Harris to introduce herself to people who don't know her,” said Peter Rosi, dean of George Washington University's School of Media and Public Affairs. He also worked on Democratic Party politics.
“She tells young women, 'I understand where you're coming from. I understand the challenges you're facing, the concerns and fears you have.'
“I want to speak to people where they are. I want to be part of the conversation with them,” Rosi added, calling the podcast appearance “strategically smart.”
Harris has recently come under fire from some on the right for giving few sit-down interviews since replacing President Biden at the top of the Democratic Party. Harris is on a media blitz this week and is expected to appear on multiple radio and TV shows.
In an interview on “Call Her Daddy,” Harris and Cooper shared stories about motherhood and values, including a shared idea of understanding one's “power and autonomy” over one's own life. This, along with Harris' work as a prosecutor in sexual assault cases, led to a broader debate over securing abortion rights.
Harris, who has made abortion rights one of her key policy priorities in the White House, criticized Trump for appointing the Supreme Court justices who ultimately overturned Roe v. Wade, saying the former president He claimed that it was “full of lies”. problem.
At one point, Ms. Harris dismissed Republican criticism about her lack of biological children and declared, “We're not in the 1950s anymore.”
She also called Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. J.D. Vance (Ohio)'s past comments about “childless cat ladies” “nasty and spiteful” when asked by Cooper about family relationships. criticized.
Harris does not have any biological children of her own, but she does have two stepchildren with Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff.
The day after the episode was released, Voters of Tomorrow (VOT), a left-wing group made up of young American voters, said that Harris's sit-down with Cooper, nicknamed by podcast fans, was “like her He said he showed them how to fight. For the future of women. ”
“The influence Alex Cooper has, especially on young women, is huge. I think she's really created a space for young women in particular to hear about the things they want to know and the topics they're interested in. That kind of thing isn't usually part of the mainstream conversation,” said VOT spokeswoman Jessica Siles. hill.
Harris has solidified her support among young and female voters in recent weeks, according to polls. Nationally, Ms. Harris currently has a 3.4 point lead over Mr. Trump, according to Hill/Decision Desk's average poll.
“Even though Harris already aligns with these listeners on this issue, this [episode] That might be the last thing they need to motivate them to actually come to the venue and vote and vote for her, and for groups that aren't always invested in advocacy, this “This may only further emphasize the importance and stakes of the election,” Sires added.
Democratic strategist Kaivan Shroff also argued that the podcast “Call Her Daddy” lends itself to “branding” for the Harris campaign, which has primarily appealed to young voters through online memes and other social media trends.
He argued that this is part of a larger shift away from traditional media and how Cooper's show could attract a larger audience than some cable news networks.
“I don't think this is setting up some kind of challenge, but certainly an approach to the campaign that doesn't feel dependent on traditional media choices in a way. “I think it's repeating itself,” he said. Said.
She said “Call Her Daddy's” unfiltered discussion of sexuality made Cooper's audience feel comfortable with sensitive topics like abortion and mental health, even if the issues aren't particularly politically charged. He pointed out that this suggests that they are likely to be more “open” and comfortable having discussions.
The Trump campaign quickly condemned Harris' interview, claiming the vice president ignored the victims of Hurricane Helen in a series of posts on Monday.
Hurricane Victim Posts Side-by-Side Podcast with Trump War Room X the account wrote“Left: Kamala Harris recording an interview for the sex podcast “Call Her Daddy.'' right: Hurricane victims have lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods and are seeking government assistance. Here's everything you need to know about Kamala's priorities. ”
On Saturday, the day before her interview with Cooper was published, Harris toured hurricane-ravaged North Carolina and held a press conference with federal and state leaders.
